Career opportunities: Business Development Manager - Corporate (14 month FTC) in London

This is a fantastic opportunity to support one of Taylor Wessing's leading practice areas as the firm undergoes significant change in becoming Winston Taylor. This role is a maternity cover and will suit an established manager looking to build on their experience within Private Equity and the associated Corporate and ancillary practice areas. You'll work closely with the Senior BD Manager, Practice Group Leaders, partners and other lawyers to achieve revenue targets, proactive business development and origination, and client development and continue to deliver a structured approach to BD activities.

The role requires strong commercial acumen, the ability to get to know the business quickly and develop a broad range of relationships, and a proactive, engaging and energetic style. We are looking for someone who will bring a strategic mindset and strong planning and advisory skills, along with a willingness to dive into the detail and take a hands-on approach to implementing the delivery of the groups' business plans. You will be a part of a BD, Marketing and Comms team that is already well-established and respected within the firm by partners and other fee-earners for its high standard of service and the ideas and commitment it brings to business development.

Key responsibilities

• Taking overall responsibility for the implementation of the Private Equity BD and Marketing plans.
• Developing a strong understanding, and supporting where necessary, across all four corporate practice groups, with responsibility for driving private equity focused BD.
• Leading on several key growth priorities across Private Equity.
• Enabling pro-active cross-selling into and out of Private Equity and broader Corporate teams.
• Work with internal analyst team and knowledge lawyers to help identify origination opportunities for the practice, developing a strong pipeline with key actions for conversion.
• Work with partners, the Senior BD Manager and dedicated Corporate pitch support as required to pitch for new business opportunities, draft or co-ordinate the writing of pitch documents and credential statements.
• Manage and support specific thought leadership campaigns, BD products, client communications and marketing initiatives, working with the wider BD, Marketing & Comms team.
• Collaborate with the Events and BD Operations teams on client events for your practices and take responsibility for running practice or sector-specific seminars and networking events.
• Develop and maintain the information necessary to market the groups for which you and the team are responsible, supported by the BD Ops team in Liverpool.
• Support internal communications to ensure that there is a good understanding of BD activities throughout the firm.
• Lead on the creation of directory/award submissions to increase market profile and perception of teams.
• Building trust with a broad range of stakeholders at all levels and promoting understanding and the reputation of the BD, Marketing and Comms team.
• Building strong working relationships with colleagues in international locations to strengthen collaboration and information exchange between all parts of the firm.

Knowledge, skills and experience

This role is a busy and demanding position yet hugely satisfying and rewarding to work as part of a dynamic, ambitious practice department. We are looking for a candidate with the following knowledge, skills and experience:

• A high level of personal credibility, impact and influence with proven ability to work effectively and persuasively at all levels of the business.
• An ability to provide commercial and proactive advice on business development, marketing and communications issues – based on knowledge of legal services and the Private Equity sector.
• Previous BD experience at manager level with practical experience of a variety of BD roles including pitches, account management, thought leadership and team management.
• A can-do attitude with a bias for action.
• The ability to take the initiative and ownership for projects, and the drive to get things done.
• A flexible mindset and an ability to work to deadlines, juggle multiple projects, work with ambiguity, and deliver under pressure.
• Strong organisational skills and an excellent attention to detail.
• A knowledge of CRM systems and a familiarity with generating meaningful data and reporting for business intelligence and targeting purposes.
• Ambition, drive, likeability and a strong work ethic.

Benefits

Here are a select few benefits that Taylor Wessing offer:

• Hybrid working (Offering the opportunity to work remotely, while maintaining a social boundary by working from our award-winning offices for 3 days a week).
• Holiday (Our basic annual holiday entitlement starts at 25 days, with a further discretionary day of paid leave in December. You may also purchase up to five extra days each year (pro rata).
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity leave (After one-year service, you are entitled to up to 26 weeks leave full pay if you or your partner give birth or adopt a child).

Along with these there are many more benefits we offer, with the addition of a comprehensive flexible benefits package available.

Our culture

Nurturing a diverse, inclusive culture allows all of our talent to flourish, sparks creativity and powers innovation. We continue to build a team that exemplifies inclusivity and reflects the firm's core values: creative, excellence, integrity, responsible, respect and team. We value and celebrate the differences in who we are, what we have experienced and how we think, so all candidates will be treated fairly regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender identity, marital status, neurodiversity, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and socio-economic background.

The way we work

At Taylor Wessing, we never settle for average. We're creative thinkers, problem solvers and continuous learners who excel at what we do and believe our best work is still ahead of us. We are a firm that's large enough for you to achieve your ambitions, but connected enough to be a true community.

Taylor Wessing is a global law firm that serves the world's most innovative people and businesses. Deeply embedded within our sectors, we work closely together with our clients to crack complex problems, enabling ideas and aspirations to thrive. Together we challenge expectation and create extraordinary results. By shaping the conversation in our sectors, we enable our clients to unlock growth, protect innovation and accelerate ambition.

With 1250+ lawyers, 350+ partners, 26 offices and 16 jurisdictions we are looking to expand our Business Development team, with the addition of a Business Development Manager - Corporate (14 month FTC).